የኢትዮዽያውያን ዴሞክራቶች ድረ-ገፅEthiopian Democrats' Website

By Yared Haile-Meskel

The recent televised election debate has become more captivating than everyone has imagined. Even sceptics and cynics cannot help but watch it over the web.

The purpose of this short commentary is not to dissect who said what but to highlight a point that makes me cringe behind my computer when I hear every Tom & Jerry as the bastion of liberal democracy regardless of their past political orientation.

What is Liberal Democracy then? Nowadays, is it a fashion or a belief?

I know, EDP, as a party of the post-revolutionary generation, had been advocating liberal democracy since its inception. In a way, it is fortunate to start from clean sheet.

During the 2005 election, the term Liberal democracy wasn’t even in the vocabulary of most campaigners.

Even within Kinijit with exception of EDP, no body was keen about it. In fact, Kestedamena was clear on its stand to say that they are social democrats. As to AEUP, well; I didn’t know what it stands for.

So what is happening since the last few weeks is “doing my head in”.

Every battle hardened communist, from Ato Ayelew Chamiso to Ato Gebru Asrat, are claiming to be born again liberal democrats. What is going on? Am I the only one getting confused?

Current politicians approach to politics appears like choosing a starter, a main course and dessert from a menu.

It is just like pointing your finger on the menu and say, I like Liberal democracy, with no private land ownership, with group rights toping and self-determination well-done. By the way, make it quick and no FDI.

Particularly, Medrek’s approach to the selection from the menu is very entertaining. What happened to the old good days of proud and puffed-up revolutionary vanguards? Is it a mid-life crisis, or a road to Damascus experience?

What made me pull my remaining hair is when some of the politicians’ stare straight into the camera, with no blink, to tell us that they are liberal democrats.

I grew up during the revolution and I know how the cadres of the Communist ideology used to behave. We were subjected to slogan and indoctrination that the world set on one way street heading towards communism. You know what, we almost believed it.

Some of them used to throw their arms until it came off its socket ball during the down with Imperialism ritual! Now all of a sudden, hallelujah, we all are liberal-democrats.

On a serious note, I am fine with Ato Tamrat Layne’s the road to Damascus experience. However what I find it hard to fathom is how one can switch from a hard-line communist into evangelist of the liberal democracy over night?

Mr. Liberal democrats Gebru Asrat, Merrara Gudena, Ayalew Chamiso etc sound too mouthful. Let’s think it is only meant to be for the election consumption and no further.

It seems to me that, at least, the ruling party can boast of having some pride left in its soul to invent a transition arrangement called revolutionary-democracy.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not in any way opposing conversion but I expect some modesty to say the least. At least, we expect from the die-hard communists turned into born again liberal democracy evengalists, a story like the day I met Liberal Democracy, like Ato Tamerat Layne! If not, what about setting up a revolutionary-liberals camp first, as a sort of transitional arrangement!

Don’t be mad at me. I know politics has been a favourable habitat for Deme -Merrare (bitter) politicians. But Liberal democracy allows a bit of satire and laughing at even big ideas. I am just testing.

Dear Yared,

A very good observation. People in Medrek seem to have picked the term liberalism without understanding what it really means. Hard to believe. Dr. Beyene who is a leader of a socialist party is suddenly promoting liberalism as a member of Medrek. He does that without a single change in his socialist party program. As we all know he is a leader or advisor of various parties. He is probably a liberal in one and a socialist in the other.